Surgical instrument.



H. JOHNSON.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1910.

I 9?9 55 Patented Dec.27, 1910. I

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Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed February 14, 1910. Serial No. 543,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY JOHNSON, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at VVoodford, in the county of Lafayette and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SurgicalInstruments, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements insurgical instruments for veterinary use and more particularly to aninstrument of the above character for cutting growths from the interiorof the udder or teats of milk bearing animals.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide aninstrument which may be easily and quickly inserted into the teat orudder without danger of cutting the same and then rotated to cut thegrowth from the wall of the organ.

Another object is to provide an instrument of the above character whichmay be economically manufactured, and one which is highly efficient forthe purposes in view.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of partsfully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a veterinary surgicalinstrument embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof; andFig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Cows and other milk bearing animals are frequently affected withgatherings or growths upon the interior of their teats and udders whichseriously interfere with the proper flow of the milk and in someinstances entirely close the channel or passage and stop its flowaltogether. Numerous instruments have been devised to remedy theseconditions, but they have invariably been of such form as to rendertheir use extremely dangerous to the animal. the teat being cut by theinsertion of the instrument therein. These prior instruments have alsobeen impracticable for the reason that they are very ditlicult tomanipulate so as to remove the growth without cutting the wall of theorgan after they have been inserted.

My improved instrument is devised with a view to eliminating theseserious objections and provides a device which will not cut or scarifythe udder upon the removal of the growth.

lVith the above ends in view 1. form the instrumentfrom one continuouspiece of metal preferably steel, to provide a shank or handle portion 5formed upon its end with a finger ring 6 through which the operator'sfinger is adapted to be inserted in the use of the instrument. The shankis preferably cylindrical in form and adjacent to its other end isformed with a concavoconvex blade 7 which extends longitudinally and isequally disposed upon opposite sides of the shank 5. This blade issubstantially elliptical in form the ends thereof gradually merging intothe shank and it is provided with the knife edges 8. It will be notedthat these cutting edges are disposed in line with the shank of theinstrument. The outer extremity of the shank 5 is formed with a bluntpoint 9 which is adapted to be inserted into the orifice of the teat ofthe animal.

In the use of my impr ved instrument the point 9 is inserted into theend of the teat and the blade '7 forced therein the convex surface ofthe blade engaging with the wall of the orifice and holding the sameaway from the cutting edges of the blade. if the growth is in the udderof the animal additional pressure is brought to bear until the blade 7is disposed. therein and engaged with the growth. The operator mayreadily determine when the blade is properly positioned by the vibrationof the handle portion 5 of the instrument when it engages with theprotrusion on the udder wall. The instrumentis then rotated and thecutting edges 8 of the blade will grind or cut the growth away from theorgan. The concave blade also provides means for assisting in theremoval of the growth after the same has been out.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation andmany advantages to be obtained by the use of my improved instrument willbe apparent without necessitating a more extended description. it issimple, can be manufactured at a very low cost and is very efficient inuse. All danger of cutting or tearing the teat or udder is elnnmated andan instrument provided whereby the growth may be quickly removed With aminimum of pain to the animal.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed is 1. The hereindescribed surgical instrument comprising a cylindrical shank forming ahandle portion, a longitudinally eX- tending concave-convex cuttingblade formed on the shank, the cutting edges of said blade beingdisposed in line with the shank, said edges converging at their ends andmerging into the shank whereby a shallow trough is formed, the end ofsaid shank adjacent to the blade being tapered to form a blunt point,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein described instrument coinprising a cylindrical shank, aconcaVo-convex blade substantially elliptical in form, the edges of saidblade being sharpened and gradually merging into the shank at theirconverging ends, said blade forming a shallow trough extending upon oneside of the shank, said shank being disposed in the same plane beyondthe opposite ends of the blade, one end of said shank being pointed,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

HENRY JOHNSON. lVitnesses Josrn SARGENT, R. E. GIERHART.

